Bohemians striker Jonathan Afolabi has joined Belgian club KV Kortrijk for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old enjoyed a superb 2023 campaign for the Gypsies, finishing as joint-top scorer in the League of Ireland Premier Division (15) and earning a call-up to Stephen Kenny's senior international squad.
The Dubliner also scored in Bohs' FAI Cup final defeat to St Patrick's Athletic and was nominated for the PFA Ireland Player of the Year Award.
With a year to run on his contract, the former Southampton and Celtic frontman was believed to have attracted attention from England, as well as a number of clubs in Belgium.
KV Kortrijk, currently rooted to the foot of the bottom of the table in Belgium’s Pro-League with just two wins from 20 games, have now won the race to sign him.
𝘈𝘍𝘖𝘓𝘈𝘉𝘐 𝘐𝘚 𝘌𝘌𝘕 𝘒𝘌𝘙𝘌𝘓
— KV Kortrijk (@kvkofficieel) December 29, 2023
Jonathan Afolabi komt over van het Ierse Bohemian FC . ✍️
De Ierse aanvaller, met Nigeriaanse roots, kroonde zich dit seizoen tot topschutter in de Ierse hoogste klasse. ⚽️
📝Alle info hier ⤵️https://t.co/ozP4PcfTc1#AltijdEenKerel 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/NxswWx5vh7
Last month they made an initial offer of €200,000, with further potential payments in terms of bonuses.
The departing Afolabi paid tribute to the Dalymount club.
"It has been a pleasure and an honour to play for Bohs the last year and a half," he said.
"I’d like to thank the coaching staff, my teammates and all the fans for making my time here very enjoyable.
"I’ll be moving on with a lot of good memories and moments in my career that have helped me improve."
Sligo Rovers have continued to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Premier Division season with the signing of midfielder Connor Malley from Dundalk.
Malley follows JR Wilson, Wilson Waweru, Simon Power and Ellis Chapman as the new arrivals at the Showgrounds, with the club looking to improve on a disappointing eight-placed finish in this year's top flight.
Rovers boss John Russell is looking forward to working with the 23-year-old Englishman, who had previous spells with Middlesbrough and Rochdale prior to his one season with the Lilywhites.
Russell told sligorovers.com: "He's a marquee signing for us. He’s a player I’ve been very impressed since he came into the league last year. He’s a player that transform our midfield in terms of creativity, carries the ball well, goes past players, can score goals, can assist, and I think he’ll fit in with our style of play.
"He works hard for the team, a box to box midfielder, I think he’s excited about coming to Sligo and playing in our system and our style, and I’m looking forward to what he can bring to our team next year."
First Division Kerry FC have signed 21-year-old left/centre-back Jack Kavanagh from Athlone Town ahead of next season.
Kavanagh came through the Dundalk FC academy level before signing for the Midlanders in August 2022. He played 33 games this year as Athlone reached the play-offs, featuring on the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division Team of the Week on three occasions.
